Health

Christopher Columbus was the first person to note bizarre phenomena in the Bermuda Triangle, reporting that he observed "strange dancing lights on the horizon." The region, also know as the Devil’s Triangle, may be famous for unusual happenings and strange disappearances, but a triangle yielding more wreckage can be found in the human neck and skull.

Many of us walk like stressed out zombies- tensely dragging through a life that's like an over-filled martini glass spewing its mixture of stress hormones and toxins with our every move. Tight from worries about the past and fears of the future, our muscles desperately grip our bones. Adding to the aging process, each daily obligation engraves more wrinkles across our zombie foreheads. Are we too busy to truly live? Is there a way to break the trance of distraction that dominates our consciousness and ravages our emotional and physical health? If we are willing to change our zombie walk and bend our bodies a little, the answer is YES!

Celeste was expecting. She felt great and welcomed each miraculous change. The baby moved easily into to the head-down position. She walked comfortably with a steady confidence throughout her last trimester. The delivery was easy and beautiful. Her midwife commented on the joy of assisting in such a wonderful delivery experience. Her recovery quickly unfolded.

Coffee Beans Coffee beans are actually the seeds inside coffee cherries. The cherries grow on trees that are usually cut to about eight feet to allow for easier picking. However, in many forests the trees grow wild and much taller. Each coffee cherry normally holds two beans. Some freak cherries only hold one bean. These are called peaberries and tend to have more intense flavor.

Recently, a very good friend of ours brought us a few pounds of coffee beans from Canada as a gift. He had been living down the street from this small coffee roaster and each morning on his way to work he was captured by the heavenly scent of fresh brewed coffee. He told us that this was the best coffee he had ever tried and with an air of anticipation, we made a pot. The coffee was extraordinary; it had a great flavor, well balanced and a great taste. He was right, it really was the best cup of coffee we had tried.

Coffee has been getting a bad rap for years. Check out some of these healthy benefits for the morning brew!

Blood pressure— Results from long-term studies are showing that coffee may not increase the risk for high blood pressure over time, as previously thought. Study findings for other cardiovascular effects are a mixed bag. What we do know is that for non-habitual coffee drinkers, those first few cups will cause a temporary rise in blood pressure, but for regular drinkers, a tolerance develops and won’t cause any long term, permanent increase.

Puncture wounds are more serious than most people think. Because the wound creates a hole in the foot, rather than a tear like a common cut, they are extremely prone to infections and cause more internal damage. What would seem like a simple infection on a small wound can easily spread to the bone and joint and endanger the limb if not treated in a timely manner. The severity of a puncture wound is very hard to gauge for a person without a medical background because the depth and internal damage of the foreign object is unknown. Because dirt and debris from the foreign object is able to embed so far into the body, the wound is more difficult to clean without proper equipment.

Q: My daughter has had symptoms of autism since her 15 month old vaccines. She does not talk well and has many behavioral difficulties. Is there any treatment techniques in osteopathy that are helpful with this diagnosis?

A: I have had several children come to me with developmental delay or autism that had minimal speech and multiple behavioral disorders. True osteopathy performed as it was created, utilized nature and animals in the treatment process. Many prescriptions included activities out in nature or interaction with animals. I use myofascial release and craniosacral therapy to balance the structure and then ask nature to help with the rest.

On Nov 17th (my mother’s birthday), there was a cataclysmic change in mammography.

The age at which a woman should have her first mammogram was changed from 40 to 50 and the frequency changed from every year to every-other year. Until now, it was believed that yearly mammograms were essential. As a radiologist and the son of a woman whose life was saved by mammography screening (breast cancer survivor since 1993), let me share my perspective on this issue.

According to a 2009 Vegetarian Resource Group/Harris Interactive survey, it is estimated that around three percent of the U.S. adult population is vegetarian. With holiday meals just around the corner, this could present a bit of a challenge for millions of households.

With holiday meals just around the corner, this could present a bit of a challenge for millions of households. Learn the Lingo. Understanding what a vegetarian is and what they eat can be one of the most difficult areas people face with this issue. A vegetarian does not eat any type of animal flesh, whether from fish, fowl or other animals, although some individuals choose to eat dairy and/or egg products.

You sleep on a ramp made of pillows. You gag down chalky pink potions. You gulp purple pills or drinks that fizzle. Your meals taste blander than sand! Cold lips, knotted guts and searing pain are your constant companions. Suffering with heartburn, regurgitation and other symptoms associated with stomach irregularities has become the daily experience of thousands. Help may be just around the corner - and surprisingly, from the hands of a doctor of chiropractic!

Indoor smoking bans have forced smokers at bars and restaurants onto outdoor patios, but a new University of Georgia study in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that these outdoor smoking areas might be creating a new health hazard.The study, thought to be the first to assess levels of a nicotine byproduct known as cotinine in nonsmokers exposed to second-hand smoke outdoors, found levels up to 162 percent greater than in the control group.

"Each of us who has made the journey through the foreign country of cancer has our own story. My journey of two bouts with breast cancer changed my life forever. I learned to speak up for myself, to discover my own special gifts, to deepen my spirituality and belief in the body-mind-spirit connection

Healthy eating habits are an important part of maintaining a strong immune system. As cold and flu season get underway, breaking poor eating habits can not only prevent sickness, but also give you more energy, make you feel better about yourself, and help you live a healthier life. Dr. DerMarderosian suggests the following healthy eating basics:

Fresh, ripe blueberries are bursting with flavor, loaded with nutrients and low in carbohydrates. They are high in vitamin C and potassium, are a source of vitamin E and important trace minerals, especially manganese and selenium. Blueberries are a good source of dietary fiber. In addition to their nutritive value, scientists are discovering the tremendous anti-aging, and health protective benefits of blueberries. These benefits are discovered in the very attribute that gives blueberries their sensory appeal – their color.

What are we really feeding our Pets?

A: The pet food industry is a multi-billion dollar per ?year industry. More than 95% of United States companion animals derive their nutritional needs from a single source; that source is commercial pet food. The quality of pet food is extremely variable. There are literally hundreds of pet foods on the market and they range in quality of ingredients. Some contain grains and by-products, others contain human grade meats. This is where the importance of reading the pet food ingredients label comes into play.

What are the pros and cons of feeding babies formula versus breast milk? And if I purchase formula, should I spend the extra money on the organic variety? It is generally acknowledged within the medical community that breast milk is the ideal first food for babies, though modern formula brands can get the job done, too. Human breast milk naturally contains the vitamins and minerals a newborn requires. According to the website KidsHealth.org, breastfed infants have less difficulty with digestion than their formula-fed counterparts. And since breast milk is easily digested, breastfed babies have fewer incidences of diarrhea or constipation.

Melissa, a 14 year old type 1 diabetic, is currently a freshman at a regional high School. She enjoys playing with her puppy King Henry, playing tennis and having fun with friends. She is also involved in volunteering for JDRF and feels that her future calling is to be an endocrinologist. Even though she faces day to day challenges with her disease, Melissa lives a pretty normal life with the help and support of her friends and family.

As many as 3 million Americans may have Type 1 Diabetes. Each year more than 15,000 children are diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S. That’s 40 children per day.

Type 1 diabetes often develops in children, adolescents, and young adults, so it's sometimes called "juvenile diabetes." Although there is currently no cure for diabetes, we are making progress through research. In the meantime, people with diabetes do their best to control it with diet, exercise, and insulin.

About Blood Sugar Levels

A healthy pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that the body uses to change glucose in the blood into energy. Glucose in the blood comes from the food and drink a person consumes. A person with type 1 diabetes doesn't produce any insulin.

Q: I have had episodes of dizziness that comes on intermittently and seems to be occurring more frequently and it seems to happen whenever I lie down. I have been getting treated for a car accident that occurred earlier this year, could they be related?

A: There is a chance you have benign paradoxical vertigo. This is caused by an unequal distribution of inner ear matter. There are very simple exercises that can be done in sitting. Turning your head to one side and falling to the opposite side touching the part of your head beneath your ear to the surface count to 30, up and follow the same directions to the other side.

NO FIRE!

Before they discovered how to make fire, cavemen (or cave people to be politically correct) may have had trouble fending off sabertooth tigers or keeping the clan warm at night. But, could their uncooked foods have been healthier than those comprising the modern diet?

Certainly there are benefits to eating a cooked meal. Nonetheless, it is worth our time to get right down to the roots of the earthy advantages of eating raw foods. To bring the full flavor of the raw food experience to your palate, I decided to consult an expert in the field.

“A Beginner’s Guide to Creating the Fitness Habit”

Loathe it or hate it, in some form or another, exercise is one of life’s necessary ‘evils’. It doesn’t matter where you live, how much money you have in the bank or who you know – Your body is your responsibility… and you only get one. Some think of exercise as pure hell. Others simply refer to it as the “E-word”. And then there are those who have found ways to completely eliminate all thoughts of physical activity from their minds (and have less-than-stellar medical records to prove it). But on the positive side, exercise doesn’t mean you have to join a gym or spend a ton of money on high-tech moisture wicking clothing. Exercise is supposed to be fun. It’s what our bodies are meant to do. Hard to believe, huh?

I am writing this article to hopefully clear up the misconceptions about Kundalini Yoga. As one of the few Kundalini yoga instructors in the area, I am often approached by persons with a certain amount of caution, hesitation, and questioning. “What is this style of yoga you teach?” and “I’ve heard that people can lose their minds practicing your style of yoga” and even “Are you the sex yoga instructor?” Other yoga instructors will say, “You better be careful. Are you sure that Kundalini yoga is safe?” And then there are others who have never heard of Kundalini Yoga —yet another reason for writing this article. The following is what I have learned to be true about Kundalini Yoga: it is known as the Yoga of Awareness, it is very safe, it is incredibly healing, and it is not sex yoga, though it does make you feel really good!

Our month of May gleams with renewal. Fluorescent green continues to sprout from rich, dark earth after a restful winter and chilly spring. Flowers blossom little and large, brilliant and aromatic to seduce pollinating insects—an ingenious strategy to enhance a future for all of us. What a spectacle. Do you ever marvel at Nature’s seasonal cycles of soughing off the old for the new to emerge? I’ve witnessed this spring rebirth 64 times, and continue to be delighted with surprises brand new to my awareness.

Writer's Bio: Karen is a naturopathic physician who has taken holistic healing and education into the realm of quantum physics. She is credited with “the first major breakthrough in Swedish Massage ~ research demonstrating energetic interconnections ~ since Peter Ling systemized it in the early 19th century.” International recognition for her healing and educational work includes an honorary degree, a silver medal, listing in Who’s Who of Professional and Business Women, appearances on TV and radio, lecturing in Europe and in the U.S. for professional symposia, colleges, corporations, community groups, and being featured in professional journals, magazines and newspapers. She has published more than 200 articles on holistic health and education. She has facilitated joyful well-being and health for hundreds of students she has personally certified in holistic healing and holistic massage and for hundreds more clients she has personally touched including luminaries in science, medicine and religion. iamholistic@gmail.com

I have been a runner since age 13 and ran competitively at University of Virginia in the mid 80’s. My interest in medicine was sparked after experiencing our team physician Dr. Danial Kulund of Charlottesville try some seemingly bazaar at the time and innovative approaches to running injuries.

He was the first to have people run in the pool and built orthotics in his toaster oven. It seemed like there must be better ways to treat these maladies and Dr. Kulund blazed his own path. Oft injured Mary Decker Slaney was one of the first of Dr. Kulund’s patients to have running rebirth by his methods.

So he decided to start experimenting. True, it wasn’t as complex as, say, Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”. He didn’t need to have a huge, expensively outfitted laboratory and it was entirely legal, but, after all, it was the rule, the law. Whoever cooked pasta of any shape, any length, in less than 4-6 quarts of water?

What if someone were to tell you that there was a measurable substance in your body that is theoretically the most important indicator of the health and adaptability of your body’s total biochemistry and your risk of degenerative diseases? Sound intriguing – that’s what is being said about Homocysteine. Recent research is discovering that high levels of homocysteine can damage arteries, the brain and DNA. Elevated homocysteine has been proven to increase the formation of plaques on blood vessel walls leading to clogging and hardening of the arteries.

What an exciting season. Mother Nature dazzles every one of my senses in Her spectacular performance of rebirth and renewal. Last month’s little green nubs are today’s kaleidoscopic tulips and golden daffodils. The delicious aroma of freshly mowed grass inspires me to pause for some really deep breaths. Barefoot stepping over lush, cool moss not only delights my feet, but also brightens my already good mood. Songbirds serenade me into wakefulness each morning like those endearing opening scenes of Walt Disney’s Cinderella. The exquisite taste and crunchy texture of the first fresh-picked asparagus from the garden is irresistible.

Writer's Bio: Karen is a naturopathic physician who has taken holistic healing and education into the realm of quantum physics. She is credited with “the first major breakthrough in Swedish Massage ~ research demonstrating energetic interconnections ~ since Peter Ling systemized it in the early 19th century.” International recognition for her healing and educational work includes an honorary degree, a silver medal, listing in Who’s Who of Professional and Business Women, appearances on TV and radio, lecturing in Europe and in the U.S. for professional symposia, colleges, corporations, community groups, and being featured in professional journals, magazines and newspapers. She has published more than 200 articles on holistic health and education. She has facilitated joyful well-being and health for hundreds of students she has personally certified in holistic healing and holistic massage and for hundreds more clients she has personally touched including luminaries in science, medicine and religion. iamholistic@gmail.com

Spring has sprung and along with mild temperatures and longer days come our primordial desires to clean houses, yards, cars and pets. Getting rid of excess “stuff” accumulated during the winter brings a tremendous sense of relief and accomplishment. Our bodies, according to Eastern and Western healing traditions, also accumulate excess “stuff” during the winter months. Heavy protein and fat laden meals, combined with lack of exercise, leave the digestive tract and liver sluggish. Among the “spring cleaning” herbs in Traditional Chinese and Ayruvedic Medicine is turmeric. Traditionally, people use turmeric for indigestion, bloating, intestinal parasites, and to support the liver and gall bladder. Herbal support for the digestive tract and liver, according to these healing methods, helps the body eliminate toxins and purifies the blood.

Whether you’re among the 86% of polled Americans who favor retaining “In God We Trust” on currency, or the 14% that want it deleted, here’s some down to earth encouragement to get help for living well from a powerful higher resource. Whether you are religious, agnostic or atheist, believing in and utilizing some power greater than one’s mortal self is a topic worth exploration during these challenging times. It’s an enduring investment with guaranteed dividends.

Writer's Bio: Karen is a naturopathic physician who has taken holistic healing and education into the realm of quantum physics. She is credited with “the first major breakthrough in Swedish Massage ~ research demonstrating energetic interconnections ~ since Peter Ling systemized it in the early 19th century.” International recognition for her healing and educational work includes an honorary degree, a silver medal, listing in Who’s Who of Professional and Business Women, appearances on TV and radio, lecturing in Europe and in the U.S. for professional symposia, colleges, corporations, community groups, and being featured in professional journals, magazines and newspapers. She has published more than 200 articles on holistic health and education. She has facilitated joyful well-being and health for hundreds of students she has personally certified in holistic healing and holistic massage and for hundreds more clients she has personally touched including luminaries in science, medicine and religion. iamholistic@gmail.com